Back on Track, page 12
Judith and Tien stepped out after him, carrying a small souvenir bag each.
“Sorry,” Carlos said. “I got sidetracked and then the queue was so long. I think we have to return to the bus soon.”
Ketty glanced at her watch. “So we do.”
“I’ll get you a coffee when we’re back on the train.”
“Aren’t we lucky all the on-train costs are covered.” Judith stared at Carlos a moment before turning her gaze to Ketty and pulling her lips up in a smile. “With thanks for your generosity, Ketty.”
Behind Judith, Carlos stiffened and once more Ketty had the sense that something was going on and she was missing it.
“They are calling us for the bus.” Tien beckoned them wildly.
“It’s okay, Tien,” Ketty said as they all began to stroll in that direction. “They won’t go without us.” The two women went ahead and she waited for Carlos, who’d stopped to look at his phone.
“Is everything all right?” she asked.
“Yes.” He tucked the phone back in his pocket. “I’m expecting a call…hoping to hear about my case.”
“I meant between you and Judith. I’m sorry she seems a bit gruff at times.”
“I don’t think she likes me very much.”
“She’s a reserved person, that’s all. She takes a while to get to know people.” Ketty was quick to defend her friend but deep down she’d got the same vibe.
“And I’m afraid Tien thinks I’m the devil for sharing your cabin.”
“Has she said something?”
“No. It’s just that horrified look she keeps giving me.”
“Don’t take it personally. Tien gives lots of people that look. Including me sometimes. She takes a while to process things but she’ll come round.”
“She almost knocked over a display stand trying to move away from me when I joined the group in the shop. I know we’re still meant to keep our distance in crowds but she bolted.”
“Oh dear.” Ketty laughed. “I’m sure it must have been something else that startled her, not you. Anyway, you’re not usually one to take things to heart. Look at all the cruise passengers you’ve dealt with over the years. You usually ended up having any disgruntled customers eating from your hand.”
“This is different, Ketty. These women are your friends and I don’t want to damage that relationship.”
They’d reached the bus, the last of the stragglers. Ketty climbed the steps. The front seat was vacant. Warren gave her a wave and a hearty smile from the seat behind. Val was looking at her phone. Ketty took a window seat then realised Carlos was still outside. He was peering at his phone. Ketty despaired. Phones everywhere – even Carlos was checking his regularly.
He joined her and immediately struck up a conversation with the chap opposite. Ketty was left to gaze out the window. Behind her she heard Warren and Val speaking in low tones but their volume increased when the bus started up. The noise of the motor was loud. Ketty moved her ear closer to the gap between the seats but she only caught snatches of their conversation.
“It’ll be a week be…we get back,” Val said.
“They can…”
“It’s not…them.”
“I’m not doing it, Val.” Warren’s voice was louder and Ketty straightened away from the gap. “I’ve promised the t…”
She eased back as she lost his words in the engine noise again.
“You’re so selfish!” Val’s response was loud and clear.
The driver turned on the music and Ketty was left to wonder what that had been about. She was looking forward to pre-dinner drinks.
Carlos sat back and rested his head against the seat. A shaft of sunlight crossed his face and highlighted the dark shadows beneath his eyes.
“Are you all right?” Ketty asked. “You’re not still worrying about Judith and Tien, are you?”
“No. I’m suddenly very tired. I didn’t sleep much last night.”
“You’ve been travelling for days, you poor thing. Why don’t you shut your eyes? A fifteen-minute catnap might help you get through till bedtime.”
“Once upon a time I’d power through the jet lag but now…”
She patted his arm. “Sleep for a few minutes. I’ll wake you when we’re nearly back to the train.”
Carlos closed his eyes and it was barely a minute before his face relaxed and his mouth sagged open a little. A short time later he was deep in sleep, the snuffles and burbles of his breathing swallowed by the noise of the bus. She wondered if he was a snorer. No doubt she’d find out tonight. A little flutter of concern rippled inside her.
She’d been gung-ho insisting he share her cabin. When he’d arrived they’d had to organise his tours so Caryn could book his choices. He’d had a quick look at their cabin and they’d got talking then realised it was lunchtime. He hadn’t even unpacked before they’d gone to the lounge car and then on to dine. Then they’d only had time to grab their hats and bags before they’d left for the tour buses.
Carlos’s head slipped sideways and the weight of it flopped to her shoulder at an almost ninety-degree angle. This close she could smell the spicy scent of his deodorant mingled with that of perspiration. She wrapped her scarf around her handbag and wedged it between her shoulder and his head, hoping he’d be more comfortable. From his relaxed pose and deep breathing she was sure he was out for the count.
She relaxed too, imagining for a moment what it would be like to have a husband and for this small piece of intimacy to be an everyday occurrence. Not an experience she was familiar with. There’d been men in her life since the disaster that had been Leo in her late twenties but there’d never been enough of a spark for her to want to make it permanent, even though one of them had asked her to marry him.
Ketty wasn’t looking for that kind of relationship but she was happy if it found others. And even better if she could encourage people in the right direction. Her Christmas lunch had partly been planned with that in mind. She’d been delighted when Lacey and Dean had hit it off. She’d thought them well suited. Judith was a hard nut to crack but Klaus was obviously interested so Ketty hadn’t given up. It had been such a happy day, made better by having Carlos there. He’d charmed her guests and overall her lunch had been a success, she was sure of it.
sixteen
The previous December – Paddington, Sydney
Christmas morning had been busy with the last of the food preparation, but once it was done Carlos turned his hand to cocktails while Ketty and Judith changed. They’d set up the staff kitchen downstairs as the bar and Carlos was ready with his festive drinks by the time the first guests, Maurice and Lee, arrived.
“The green one looks refreshing,” Lee said.
“It’s fruity,” Ketty said, having already tasted both the green and the red drinks and decided her few sips were enough for the moment if she was to last until lunch.
Carlos handed Lee a glass of his vibrant green cocktail. “It’s melon liqueur, clear rum and fizzy lemon-lime soda, sweet but not overly.”
“What’s in the red one?” Maurice boomed.
“My usual sangria but with the addition of brandy and a dash of sweet syrup and cinnamon. I think you’ll like it.”
“Good for Ketty to have a man about doing this sort of thing for her.” Maurice took the glass of fizzing red liquid. “Lee always puts me in charge of drinks when we entertain. One less thing for her to worry about.”
Lee smiled but Ketty noticed the slight raise of her eyebrows.
Dean arrived at that moment, closely followed by Lacey who was wearing an elegant black chiffon dress with silver embroidery at the halter-style neckline and the vintage hat Ketty had given her for Christmas a few days before.
“Have you two met?” Ketty asked.
“We introduced ourselves on the way in,” Dean said.
Judith was offering appetisers and had stopped beside Maurice. The two of them were eyeing Lacey’s outfit.
“You look exquisite, Lacey,” Ketty said. “You’re so clever to have turned that remnant into a dress. The trapeze cut suits you.”
“And I love the flowers on your boots,” Lee said. “Different to your usual lace-ups.”
“I had a lucky find of this pair in the op shop.” Lacey twisted her foot to show the vibrant red flowers on the elastic inset. “Ning showed me how to do the embroidery.”
“So you did it yourself?” Lee enthused. “How clever.”
“Boots with flowers. Whatever next,” Maurice muttered.
Judith smirked behind her hand.
Lacey’s cheeks flushed pink and she turned away to remove her hat.
Heat rose inside Ketty too but it was from annoyance. Maurice was getting under her skin today and she didn’t like Judith encouraging his pomposity. She took a deep breath. Klaus arrived at that moment and pressed a roughly wrapped bundle into her hands.
“I told you not to bring anything,” she chided as she peeled back the paper to reveal a Stollen loaf. She brushed his stubbly cheek with a kiss and encountered a waft of something spicy. He’d obviously given himself a liberal splash of aftershave. Klaus was several years younger than her but his buttoned-to-the-neck shirt and well-worn cord trousers made him seem older. “You know how much I love this. Is it from your favourite shop?”
He nodded. “They make the most authentic.” Once a week Klaus travelled several suburbs to a German butchery and deli that stocked many of his favourite foods.
She put the fruity German Christmas bread on the bench. It was sealed inside a special wrapper so it would keep for the week or so it would take her to work her way through it a slice at a time.
Ketty drew her arm through Klaus’s and led him forward. “This is my friend Carlos. You must try his holiday sangria. It’s almost like having mulled wine but chilled.”
Klaus accepted the glass, took a sip and smiled.
“I don’t think you’ve met Lacey.”
“I’ve seen you coming and going from the shop,” Klaus said as he nodded at Lacey.
“And you know everyone else.”
Judith approached with a plate of hors d’oeuvres.
“Do taste one of these blinis with smoked salmon,” Ketty said. “Judith made them and they’re divine.”
“It’s not that special,” Judith murmured.
“I’d like to try one.”
Klaus smiled warmly and Ketty was pleased to see his focus was on Judith. She let go of his arm. “Take two,” she insisted, wishing Judith would loosen up a bit. She and Klaus would be good company for each other.
Klaus took one in each hand, still smiling at Judith, and Ketty stepped away. “We need music.” She picked up her phone to find the playlist she’d created for the day. In her rush she fumbled.
“Give it to one of the young ones.” Maurice chuckled. “They’ll make it work.”
Thankfully Michael Bublé started singing ‘Holly Jolly Christmas’ or Ketty may well have snarled at Maurice.
“Please sit down, everyone.” She waved a hand towards the table. “There are place names at each setting.”
“This looks lovely,” Lee said. “What have you done for us this year?”
She lifted her name plate from where it was propped against the gold linen napkin tied in the shape of a pudding with a sprig of holly through the top.
“Very festive,” Carlos said as he pulled out a chair for Ketty and then for Lacey on his other side.
Klaus did the same for Judith, who was sitting at the opposite end of the table to Ketty.
“Did you make these, Miss Ketty?” Lacey had undone the knot at the top of the napkin pudding and pulled out a dainty bow tie.
“I did.”
Lacey immediately wrapped the straps around her wrist and asked Dean to tie it for her. Ketty was so glad she’d chosen red taffeta and silver trim for Lacey’s bow. It went perfectly with the silver at her neck and of course the red flowers on her boots.
“Is that what you do with them?” Lee said and immediately turned to Maurice to tie her green and silver bow to her wrist.
“They can go in your hair, on your ankle, the strap of a handbag – you can wear them wherever you like. I’m guessing the men will prefer the neck,” Ketty said. All the men bar Dean had tied their sparkling bow ties at their neck. He held his left hand to Judith.
“Wrist for me, thanks. Can’t have all the blokes the same.”
Ketty grinned at Dean and tied hers in her hair like a headband so it held her chin-length bob back from her forehead. “Vive la différence!”
“Much better idea than those ridiculous paper hats.” Maurice nodded approvingly.
“You’ve all got a silly thing in your swags as well,” Ketty said. “There’s something to wear, something to eat, something useful and something silly.”
They all set aside the small individually wrapped Christmas truffles, except for Dean who popped his straight in his mouth. “I know I won’t have room for it later.” He laughed.
“You should have taken it home,” Judith rebuked. “There’s so much food to come.”
Dean wiped his chocolate-smudged lips with the napkin.
“The napkin is the useful.” Ketty chuckled.
“And I’m guessing this is the silly.” Carlos waggled a slip of paper between his fingers.
“You have to have the Christmas jokes.”
Carlos cleared his throat. “What do you get if you eat Christmas decorations?”
“Tinsilitus,” Dean quipped. Everyone else groaned but then took turns to read out their jokes.
Ketty glanced around her table, decorated simply with holly woven between the sparkling crystal glasses and her mother’s silver cutlery, polished to a shine the day before by Carlos. To the background sounds of her Christmas jazz playlist, her guests chatted and joked. Ketty let herself relax. Her Christmas luncheon was going well.
seventeen
Night One – On board the Ghan
Ketty’s eyes sprung open and her head pressed back against the seat. She focused on her surroundings and realised the bus was almost back to the train, which stretched out along the platform a short distance ahead.
“Carlos.” She shook him gently but he didn’t rouse. An odd buzzing sound came from somewhere nearby. She looked around and realised it was coming from his pocket. “Carlos.” She tapped his cheek softly and his eyes fluttered.
He groaned and looked around blankly as if he didn’t recognise her or where he was.
The bus stopped and people began to fill the aisle.
“You went into a deep sleep,” Ketty said. “I should have woken you earlier but I was drifting off myself. I think your phone was ringing.”
He leaned away, tugged it from his pocket and peered at the screen. “Mierda!”
Ketty was surprised. She so rarely heard Carlos lose control. “Was it someone about your case?”
“No.” He moved his head from side to side and rubbed at his neck. There was a deep crease in his cheek where it had rested on her bag. “I had hoped to sort something before we lose signal again. It’s not important.”
He sat forward as if to get to his feet then flopped back against the seat.
“Are you feeling all right?”
“Like I’ve been hit by this bus instead of riding in it.” He gave her one of his trademark smiles. “I’ll have a shower when we get back on board. That should wake me up.”
“Let’s wait till everyone’s off the bus. Then we can take our time.”
“Was the tour too exciting for you, old mate?” Warren grinned at them as he ushered Val ahead of him towards the door.
“Jet lag.” Carlos rubbed a cheek with his hand.
“You still up for drinks later?”
“We’ll be there, won’t we, Carlos.” Ketty smiled.
He nodded. “See you there.”
Several more people filed past and then Tien was peering at them, worry all over her face.
“Is everything all right?”
“Yes.” Ketty nodded. “We were a bit slow getting up so we’re waiting till everyone’s off.”
“I can help.” Tien glanced from Carlos to Ketty, no doubt calculating how she could assist Ketty without touching Carlos in the aisle seat.
“We’re perfectly fine to get ourselves off,” Ketty said firmly. “We’re just waiting for the rush to subside.”
“What’s the hold-up?” someone called from behind. “I’ve got a drink at the bar with my name on it.”
Tien shot forward.
Judith was next, her gaze on Ketty. “Would you like us to wait for you?”
“No, no. You go ahead. We’ll see you in the lounge car before dinner. Our booking is for seven o’clock.”
Ning followed, smiling as she passed. No sooner was she off the bus she was back looking at her phone and would have wobbled off the path if Tien hadn’t put a hand out to guide her.
The last passenger stepped down and Carlos rose to his feet. He swayed and gripped the handrail beside the steps.
“You okay, mate?” the driver asked.
“Jet lag,” Carlos said swiftly then stamped from foot to foot. “My leg is sleeping.”
“Do you need help getting off.” The driver was half out of his seat.
“No, no.” Carlos put up a hand.
Ketty could see he was embarrassed. “Thank you,” she said to the driver. “We’ll be fine.”
She slipped her arm through Carlos’s. “Are you sure you’re all right?” she murmured as they navigated around the last of the stragglers and set off for the train.
“I hate to admit it but the fatigue has caught up with me. I’ve always powered through in the past.”
“That was the beauty of cruising.” Ketty gave his arm a squeeze. “No jet lag.”
They reached the bitumen path beside the train. A vehicle resembling an oversized golf cart slowly overtook them with several passengers on board.
Warren leaned out and waved. “Don’t take too long, you two,” he called. “Drinks await.”
They laughed and waved back, then Ketty noticed Mr Visser facing them from the rear seat. She smiled and nodded. He gave a brief nod in response as the cart rumbled away.
